StillSmart

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2012-02-16T00:26:45+00:00

I would just like to say thanks for a fantastic thread.
I just got my air still today and have just set off my first ever wash
Some of the information in this thread is invaluable and will no doubt help with my learning curve.
Thanks.

Statistics: Posted by bobnot — Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:26 am

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-21T19:19:22+00:00

I think he meant pennies worth of alcohol- the filters are indeed pricy.
I always leave the spirit in the filter rather than pushing it out with water- you'll get it out the next time you use it.

I have never had the problems with smelly or brown filters - I would guess the 40% drink is excellent at keeping all sorts of nasties at bay.

Haven't used mine in a while though.

Statistics: Posted by Capt-Cudellez — Fri Oct 21, 2011 7:19 pm

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-21T19:12:32+00:00

80 notes for an Essencia is not a few pennies aidan!

Don't get me wrong, hints have been made, and I will have one on my kitchen worktop at some point this millennium.

But I love your logic regarding the ABV. Always thinking.

Statistics: Posted by mozr — Fri Oct 21, 2011 7:12 pm

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-21T10:55:26+00:00

Have to confess I haven't done it for a while as my other half has been on filtering duty of late - when I did it I think I put it into a pan and poured a hot kettle onto it, drained it (you'll see like an oil slick on the top, that's what to get rid of) and then rinse-repeat until it seems clear. Then chuck it in a funnel and run some more through, presumably a coffee filter can handle hot water as well as hot coffee!

Also don't forget that the carbon absorbs water and this is only displaced by pushing it out from the top. When you start, the carbon will be filled with water. As you add spirit, this will push the water out of the bottom into the collecting jar. As you finish, the carbon will still be filled with spirit. This is the same with any filter, not just the funnel method.

So, to keep your spirit at the starting strength, ideally you need to discard the first bit that comes out of the carbon, as it will be water. Then you need to put some more water in the top when you're done to push out the last bit of spirit but without letting the water get through into the collecting jar. Or you can just start with slightly stronger spirit and put up with the water diluting it a bit, after all it is filtered water! If you're going to be filtering more soon, it's OK to leave the spirit in and push it through with more spirit later, it should be fairly sterile if you keep it airtight.

Statistics: Posted by Jimmy — Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:55 am

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-21T10:19:24+00:00

Is hot water better or not needed?

Statistics: Posted by mozr — Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:19 am

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-21T10:04:54+00:00

I just fill up the coffee filter basically, don't forget to run it through with water until clear first!

Statistics: Posted by Jimmy — Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:04 am

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-21T09:36:14+00:00

Hey guys.

Got myself a funnel, and some coffee filters, and ordered some alcotec carbon granules.

Jimmy, how much carbon do you use in your funnel?

Statistics: Posted by mozr — Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:36 am

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-19T20:37:13+00:00

Girls and boys I give you Slom!

2 litres, £2.69. Jobs a good un.

I had to rush around. There was a false alarm at work, so I had to dash back.

Still. At least I've got a 'heads' and 'tails' jar.

Statistics: Posted by mozr — Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:37 pm

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-19T16:09:18+00:00

I do that every time I'm in Ikea! Good items are the big swingtop jars (for aging with woodchips, fruit, etc) and the 1 litre swingtop bottles. I won't spoil any of the rest of it for you though!

If it is any consolation for you, I've had a wash going for four or five weeks now and it isn't finished, it's still bubbling but just not fast enough even with my Electrim (which I think needs adjusting) - patience is a virtue as they say...

Statistics: Posted by Jimmy — Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:09 pm

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-19T16:13:29+00:00

Oops!

Results amended to include 500ml Hearts at 75%.

I had a peek at my next wash last night, six days in (same Triple distilled batch with a brand name sugar - I bought Morrisson's own brand the first time.)

It did not smell as pungent as my first wash (possible wishful thinking). The hydrometer read just over 1.000 so not great again (I will use my electrim75 next time to hopefully help the ferment).

I will take another reading tonight. If its the same, I will clear,and strip it over the next few days.

I am going to get a vodka star (without turbo carbon apparently), and the ingredients for the non turbo wash too and start the experimentation.

I'm off to Ikea tonight to buy wardrobe doors, but will have a look round for some booze making equipment.

Cheers,

Mozr.

Statistics: Posted by mozr — Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:47 pm

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-19T10:18:08+00:00

Good stuff, sounds like you're doing things right, making notes and trying different things. One last bit of advice though - with the essences and flavourings, they usually benefit from being left a while to blend together, although have to confess not tried any liqueur types. I found that after they'd just been mixed there was definitely a bit of 'flavouring plus booze' to the taste, whereas after a while it melded together.

Statistics: Posted by Jimmy — Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:18 am

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-19T15:41:46+00:00

Thanks Al.

This is my 2nd still run.

Foreshots - 50ml - Discarded

Heads - 250ml - 76% - Harvested in my 'Heads' jar.

Hearts - 500ml - 75%

Tails - 100ml 71%
- 100ml 68%
- 100ml 65%
- 100ml 64%
- 100ml 62%

I smell tested the 500ml of tails collected, and added them to my hearts. The total ABV ended up at 70%. I watered down to 40%, left to air, and sat them on my rubbish carbon this morning.

I also collected some more tails.

- 100ml 57%
- 100ml 55%
- 100ml 48%
- 100ml 45%
- 100ml 35%

and added them to my tails jar.

I then collected

- 100ml 28%

and chucked it in the sink, chucked the rest of the water away from the still, cleaned and sterilised.

I think I have got 1700ml of 40% ABV sat on that carbon. I will taste test and compare it to my much more conservative 2nd run tonight.

Onwards and upwards.

Mozr.

Statistics: Posted by mozr — Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:28 am

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-18T21:31:21+00:00

I am just running the last of my stripped wash through, and was rereading all of your advice.

I was reading Aidan's guidance on how to cut the 2nd run, and have realised I made a booboo.

I only kept the 500ml hearts. I separated and bottled the 250ml of heads fr future use, and chucked everything that came after the 500ml heads back into my wash.

This was a mistake. What Aidan meant was isolate the 500ml hearts, then collect the rest in 100ml batches until you hit the tails (wet cardboard smell).

Then collect the tails down to 30% and harvest them, chuck them in the next wash etc.

After this you would add the good quality 100ml batches to the hearts, dilute to 40% and filter. Giving you a lot more volume.

I screwed up, but am doing it this way now.

Then onto my next wash...

Statistics: Posted by mozr — Tue Oct 18, 2011 9:31 pm

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-18T08:45:52+00:00

Thanks al.

I have made up a butterscotch cream liqueur with my spoils to thank my wife for allowing me to turn the kitchen into a laboratory for the past three weeks.

It tastes very nice. It has a sharp kick finish after the initial sweetness, but there are no obvious off tastes in it.

Should keep her in a good mood for a bit.

I can see the limitations of turbo and the air still already.

I must admit to be annoyed though. I bought something that was meant to make neutral alcohol with one pass through the still.

I will try a a vodka star for my next experiment.

Cheers,

Mozr.

Statistics: Posted by mozr — Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:45 am

Re: First Wash Virgin. Bubbling for the first time. XXX

2011-10-18T06:18:32+00:00

keep at it moz mate... i was shitting bricks the first time i put a wash on and tried to distill it but it does get easier!..

thing is you will never completely get rid of the smell with turbo's and an airstill or everyone would still be using turbos and they don't......iv had my airstill for over a year now and iv always used turbo's and basically "put up with the smell/taste" until i started to filter it to death and that takes most (but not all) of the nasties out.

even lashing out 400 large on a t500 didn't improve it by much cos I'm still using a turbo wash.... its only now that iv put my first non-turbo on and i can't wait to see the outcome of that when it finally finishes as they take a good while longer.

believe me mate, iv tried loads of different filters to try and get my spirit fast/odorless and i have managed to get it pretty good but not as perfect as id like but thats down to the stuff i start with.

keep at it cos theres nothing better than trial and error.

al.

Statistics: Posted by i dont drink — Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:18 am